EatInEatOut Holiday 2014 | Page 32

Cocktails anyone? by Stephanie Arsenault, West Coast Editor There’s no doubt that you’ll be cooking some delicious dishes and baking up a storm this holiday season; turkey, stuffing, cake, cookies – you name it. But don’t forget: it’s just as important to have a few good cocktail recipes under your belt. After all, when your doorbell rings and you have unexpected guests, it’s a heck of a lot easier to create a delectable drink than it is to whip up an impressive dessert. There’s something about making cocktails from scratch that seems a little intimidating, isn’t there? Why even bother when you can just open a bottle of wine or crack a brew? Well, cocktails are more fun – simple as that. They’re as lovely to 32 WWW.EATINEATOUT.CA look at as they are to drink, and there seems to be one for every occasion, every mood, and every palate. Here are three simple-yet-impressive recipes to help you embark on a cocktail-loving journey this holiday season: a Cranberry Gin Sparkler, Spicy Pineapple Slush, and (let’s save the best for last, shall we?) a Boozy Eggnog Float. Each of these recipes makes just one serving, but they can easily be doubled or tripled accordingly; that way you can make separate drinks for yourself and your guests depending on who wants what. Plus, how impressed will they be when you bring out an assortment of tempting bevvies?